Manteigaria

Fábrica de Pastéis de Nata, Lisbon

Manteigaria is a custard tart bakery located in the Ribeira Market in Lisbon. The site covers an area of 70m2, within the perimeter of the Timeout Market, laid out according to the plan designed by Francisco Aires Mateus. The logic of continuity established by the aforementioned architect incorporates the utilisation of pre-defined finishing materials rendering obligatory the application of black wall tiles and Lioz marble stone for the counters and working surfaces.

The concept established for Manteigariarevolvesaround the design of a space that is made up of the two stores existing in the Market, which were not formerly interconnected. Based upon this premise, we created a single space with two storefronts – one facing towards the market interior and the other opening onto the adjoining 24 de Julho Avenue, with an interlinking and shared space given over to the production of the custard tarts. This central area is separated from the two sales points by glass divisions so that clients may observe the ongoing cake making process. These glass partitions also enable a frank and transparent relationship to develop between the interior and exterior environments of the market and underpinning the perception of this as a single, unique place.

For the storefront facing the 24 de Julho Avenue, the objective was to design a central counter for serving the public, which directly interlinked the bakery with the exterior through the two existing windows. These windows were adapted to allow for them to be mechanically opened outwards to provide for product sales in a take-away format. This also extended to a space for clients with an eating counter located in the store interior.

For the market interior, the concept adopted the Grab & Go format and thus incorporating only two counters facing towards the interior of the food-court similar to the other outlets in the market.

The store ambience was inspired by the constructive logic of the traditional, existing market, making recourse to constructions made out of black metallic structures, whether fixed or mobile, finished in glass and stone panels, which divide up the three distinct moments of the store. Despite the obligation to utilise the core finishing materials, there was also the introduction of new materials able to nurture a distinctive environment for the space, in particular the panels in Tinos green marble that punctually introduce new textures and splashes of colour. A purpose designed suspended lustre was also installed to emphasise the ceiling height while making reference to a classical language with a contemporary constructive logic, seeking to reach out to the intervention project principles that rest upon achieving an equilibrium between a contemporary intervention and this historical location within the city.